April Fool’s Day and Dulwich welcome Bury Town back to the Hill for the first time in the Isthmian League.

With the race to blag a ticket to post season playoff party getting tighter than a Hoxton trendy’s trousers, the jokes will be thin on the ground as Dulwich look to break out of their recent winless streak and gain valuable ground over their rivals for those precious places in the playoffs.

Founded in 1872 the Blues are one of the most venerable clubs in the country, yet in all their 130 years of history their paths have rarely crossed with that of the Hamlet in competitive football. Indeed their only previous visit to Champion Hill; came on a balmy Sunday afternoon back in the 2008-2009 season. This was a time when the Blues were on an upward march whilst Dulwich was in the doldrums, playing second fiddle to tenants Fisher Athletic hence the game switched to the traditional day of rest. With Bury riding high in the Southern League Midland division, it came as no surprise to many that the visitors enjoyed a comfortable passage through to the next round with a 3-0 that never flattered them. That campaign Bury finished in seventh spot in the Midland Division table scoring 88 goals in the league, a total only bettered by champions Leamington, but failing to make the playoffs by single point. In addition the Blues reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, losing 4-2 at Alfreton Town as well as the Semi Final of the Southern League Cup, however the following year all that was forgotten as the club clinched the Southern League Midland Division Championship on the final day of the season with a 3-0 home victory over Marlow in front of 1,550 supporters. The Blues pipped Hitchin Town to the title, scoring 115 goals during the campaign and collecting 102 points to gain promotion. Further reorganization of the league Blues back in the Isthmian League having been promoted there from the Eastern Counties league in 2006. The Blues continued to enjoy success not matched since the glory days of the 60’s. The following season they won the Suffolk Premier Cup for a tenth time, defeating fellow isthmian Leaguers Needham Market 2–0 in the final, whilst in the Ryman Premier Division they challenged eventual champions Sutton United all the way before finally running out of steam and finishing third. In the playoffs, their dreams were dashed by Suffolk rivals Lowestoft Town who came away from Ram Meadow with a 2-1 victory. A year later though, in 2011/12 the club lifted the Alan Boon (Isthmian League) Cup, beating East Thurrock 1-0 at Staines. A fifth place finish in the league meant the playoffs beckoned once more but again they would fall at the first hurdle as AFC Hornchurch triumphed 3-1 over them at the Hornchurch Stadium. They continued to be amongst the frontrunners last term but this time the playoffs would elude them as they ended up in seventh spot.

The current campaign has been something of a damp squib for the Blues, the club bumping along in mid-table for much of the season without seriously threatening to trouble either the promotion or the relegation spots. barring the Suffolk Premier Cup, the final of which they will contest with Felixstowe & Walton United, the cups have brought little relief early exits the order of the day in most. However the must be concern of being dragged into the relegation mix late on the Blues form has crumbled of late with just four points, one win, one draw, garnered in their last 12 Ryman League outings, drawing a blank nine times. A run of six straight away defeats since beating Lowestoft at Crown Meadow back on 18th January looked to have come to end on Saturday at Kingstonian. ‘Keeper Marcus Garnham had performed all sorts of heroics to keep the Blues in the game before and after Charlie Knight gave the hosts a 56th minute lead allowing Callum Finch to head home in the 90th minute to secure what had seemed an unlikely point. However, fortune did not favour the travellers and in the sixth minute of stoppage time Garnham was beaten once as Matt Drage headed home from a corner to give Bury the away day blues.

This evening’s game kicks off at 7.45 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

The turnstiles will be open from approximately 6.25 pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. As a healthy crowd is expected, why not avoid the late rush and relax. Before the game enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50